People's Republic of China

China is currently the world’s most populous country, totaled at approximately 1.34 billion people. With its accelerated economic growth, after transforming the previously restrictive economic policies, it now has both the fastest growing and the second largest economy in the world. Despite this growth, almost 200 million people still live below the international poverty line.

China is a single-party state, and is governed by the Communist Party. This government is based in Beijing, which is also the capital city. In addition to the territory of the People’s Republic of China, the country also contains the autonomous regions of Tibet, Mongolia, Guangxi, Ningxia and Xinjiang. Also included are the Special Administrative Regions of Macau and Hong Kong. China also lays claim to Taiwan as its 23rd province, however this is disputed.

The majority of China’s citizens, an estimated 92%, identify as Han Chinese. The Han make up 20% of the world’s total population, making them the largest ethnic group in the world. China’s history contains one of the world’s ancient civilizations, dating back almost 4,000 years. The last dynasty ruler in the country were defeated in 1949, when the Communist Party came into power.

The landscape and topography of China’s territories is diverse, ranging from the Gobi desert in Mongolia to the Himalayan Mountains. The country contains some of the longest rivers in the world, which support its large agricultural industry.

Some of the policies instituted in China that have led to international debate and concern relate to the freedom of speech, freedom of the press and media, freedom of religion, voting and demonstration rights, as well as the rights of citizens going through the judicial system. This includes allegations of torture, detention, and use of the death penalty. Property rights have also become a concerning issue, largely impacting farmers and other workers in rural areas. Policies in Tibet are also controversial, and have led to the exodus of Tibetan refugees to neighboring countries such as India, as well as abroad. Asylum seekers often declare their appeals based on the violation of their rights in China, as well as the feared punishments of the Chinese governments for attempting to exercise their rights and freedoms.As of January of 2012, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimated that there are currently over 190,000 refugees originating from China, and over 10,000 asylum seekers. There are also over 300,000 refugees residing in China, the majority of which come from a Vietnamese background, while others come from neighboring countries such as North Korea and Myanmar.